Seriously though today's topic is the horse. If you're like me and haven't grown up around or had much experience with horses, this information you will find handy for writing your historicals or even contemporary novels in which a horse is necessary. The first is an illustration from Dr. Chase's Recipes ©1873. No he's not advocating eating horse meat. However, this book is useful for a variety of household information. Then after the picture are some tips from the same book regarding the care of the horses.
HORSE OINTMENT—De Gray or Sloan's.—Resin, 4 ozs.; bees-wax, 4 ozs ; lard, 8 ozs.; honey, 2 ozs. Melt these articles slowly, gently bringing to a boil; and as it begins to boil, remove from the fire and slowly add a little less than a pint of spirits of turpentine,.stirring all the time this is being added, and stir until cool.
This is an extraordinary ointment for bruises, in flesh or hoof, broken knees, galled backs, bites, cracked heels, etc., etc.; or when a horse is gelded, to heal and keep away flies. It is excellent to take fire out of burns or scalds in human flesh also.
CONDITION POWDERS—Said to be St. John's.—
Fenugreek, cream-of-tartar, gentian, sulphur, saltpetre, resin, black antimony, and ginger, equal quantities of each, say 1 oz.; all to be finely pulverized; cayenne, also fine, half the quantity of any one of the others, say % oz. Mix thoroughly.
It is used in yellow water, hide-bound, coughs, colds, distemper, and all other diseases where condition powders are generally administered. They carry off gross humors and purify the blood. Dose.—In ordinary cases give two teaspoons once a day, in feed. In extreme cases give it twice daily. If these do not give as good satisfaction as St. John's or any other condition powder that costs more than double what it does to make this, then I will acknowledge that travel and study are of no account in obtaining information.
3. Cathartic Condition Powder.—Gamboge, alum, saltpetre, resin, copperas, ginger, aloes, gum-myrrh, salts, and salt, and if the horse is in a very low condition, put in wormwood, all the same quantities, viz: lozeach. Dose.—One table-spoon in bran twice daily; not giving any other grain for a few days; then once a day with oats and other good feed.'
This last is more applicable for old worn-down horses which need cleaning out and starting again into new life, and in such cases, just the thing to be desired.
HORSE LINIMENT—For Stiff-Neck from Poll-Evils.
Alcohol, one pint; oil of cedar, origanum, and gum-camphor, of each two ounces; oil of amber, one ounce; use freely.
2. English Stable Liniment—Vory Strong.—Oil of
spike, aqua ammonia, and oil of turpentine, of each, 2 ozs.; sweet oil and oil of amber, of each, 1% ozs.; oil of origanum, 1 oz. Mix.
Call this good for any thing, and always keep it in tho stable as a strong liniment; the. Englishman's favorite for poll-evils, ring-bones, and all old lameness, inflammations, etc.; if much inflammation, however, it will fetch the hair, but not destroy it.
3. Nerve and Bone Liniment.—Take beef's gall, 1 qt.; alcohol, 1 pt.; volatile liniment, 1 lb.; spirits of turpentine, 1 lb.; oil of origanum, 4 ozs.; aqua ammonia, 4 ozs.; tincture of cayenne, pt.; oil of amber, 3 ozs.; tincture of Spanishflies, 6 ozs.; mix.
Uses too well known to need description. This is more particularly applicable to horse flesh.
4. Liniment for One-Shilling a Quart.—Best vinegar, 2 qts.; saltpetre, pulverized, % lb.; mix and set in a warm place, until dissolved.
It will be found valuable for spavins, sprains, strains,' bruises, old swellings, etc.
BROKEN LIMBS—Treatment, Instead of Inhumanly Shooting: the Horse.—In the greater number of fractures it is only necessary to partially sling the horse by means of abroad piece of sail or other strong cloth, (as represented in the figure,) placed under the animal's belly, furnished with two breechings and two breast-girths, and by means of ropes and pulleys attached to a cross beam above, he is elevated or lowered, as may be required.
It would seldom be necessary to raise them entirely off of their feet, as they will be more quiet, generally, when allowed to touch the ground or floor. The head-stall should be padded and ropes reaching each way to the stall, as well as forward. Many horses will plunge about for a time, but soon quiet down, with an occasional exception; when they become quiet, set the bone, splint it well, padding the splints with battings securing carefully, then keep wet with cold water, as long as the least inflammation is present, using light food, and a little water at a time, but may be given often.
The use of the different buckles and straps will be easily understood.
If he is very restive, other ropes can be attached to the corner rings, which are there for that purpose, and will afford much additional relief to the horse.
I knew a horse's thigh to crumble upon the race-course, without apparent cause, which lost him the stake he would have easily won; he was hauled miles upon a sled, slung, and cured by his humane owner. Then let every fair means b« tried, before you consent to take the life, even of a brokenlegged horse.
There are additional pages for the care and treatment of horses in Dr. Chase's Book check it out in Google Books.
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